Tag: Kellyanne Conway

Whitaker: Who Will Watch The Watcher?

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Whitaker: Who Will Watch The Watcher?

Trevor K. McNeil

 

How Did This Happen?
It seems there never was an ancient Chinese proverb “may you live in interesting times.” A pity; because rarely has it applied more than now. The term “post-truth” was coined for the age of Trump but has moved quickly past “alternative facts” and “post truth” to the point of “post-irony.”

Life is Theater
“Post irony” is a descriptor used to refer to a type of comedy in which the line between the performer and their character is intentionally blurred. I can think of no better way to describe Trump’s America. It is also a way to explain what happened in the aftermath of the most electrifying Midterm election in American history.

Error Upon Error
King Trump finally made good on his long simmering threat to fire AG Jeff Sessions. True to form Trump managed to create more problems for himself and his administration by his new appointee choice. “Now how could that happen?” you ask, with a barely concealed smile. “By appointing a successor illegally,” I say, minus the smile.

Intent to Obstruct
This is not how it is supposed to work. By law and established norms Rod Rosenstein should have been next in line for the appointment. Numerous legal pundits are claiming Trump acted “unconstitutionally” by appointing Mathew Whitaker to succeed Sessions at the Justice Department, even if only “temporarily.” Whitaker had been Jeff Sessions’ chief of staff. He had never been confirmed by the Senate for such a primary job.

Please Repeat
What’s his Name Again? Matthew Whitaker, Matthew Whitaker, Matthew Whitaker, keep repeating it, like the license plate on the fleeing car after a hit and run, so you don’t forget it.

Out of the Shadows
Most of Trump’s appointees have been famous or infamous, in one way or another. Initially, Matthew Whitaker appeared to be a nobody, who came out of nowhere. Some suggested the “mafia enforcer” listings of central casting. To me; more an “over-buffed” steroid abuser.

Past Behavior
Looking at Trump’s recent track record, Whitaker’s relative obscurity could well have been an intentional move, particularly after a rolling round of scandals and brew-ha-ha surrounding Trump associates and appointees. Such strategic thinking was quickly dispelled as Whitaker’s life has come under intense scrutiny.

Hiding in Plain Sight
Not 24 hours had passed before the NY Times published an Op Ed by George Conway III (well-known DC attorney and Kellyanne Conway’s hubby) and Neal Katyal (former Solicitor General and esteemed constitutional law expert). The Times piece questioned the constitutionality of Whitaker’s appointment. The state of Maryland later asked a Federal judge to invalidate the appointment and install Rosenstein “acting” AG.

Just Give Us a Couple Minutes
By the time the Conway-Katyal Op Ed hit the streets the skeletons in Whitaker’s closet had started rattling and clattering ominously. The elevation of Mathew Whitaker to replace the fired Sessions has brought new and intense scrutiny to his writings, his speeches, his tweets, and comments made by him as a cable news commentator.

World Patent Marketing
Whitaker’s involvement with World Patent Marketing may lead to criminal charges. *In May 2018 World Patent Marketing was ordered by a federal court in Florida to pay a settlement of more than $25 million to defrauded clients and shutter their operations. There are continuing investigations into the actions of multiple board members.

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Trump Silliness

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Trump Silliness

D. S. Mitchell

I know that yesterday, Calamity Politics veered off course when I did my ‘Sunday thing’. Today I should be settling down and writing my usual intuitive and imaginative political blog comment, but I am still reeling from mounting disclosures leaking from every government orifice, as the terrified bureaucracy, and White House staffers, spill their guts ‘off record’ in an effort to save our democracy and our cherished institutions.

Blogger Id

We need every leaker and whistle blower we can find to stop Trump and Pence. Usually I don’t mention Pence, however if we are going to push for impeachment of Trump we must also ensnare Pence. Pence has been ‘protected’ so far, but I’m sure that he is seriously involved in the collusion aspect of the campaign. We must never forget, he was brought on board by Manafort. He was there, in the inner circle, surrounded by Trump, Flynn, Sessions and all those Russians. The last thing we want in the White House is that smooth talking, MC looking troll of the right.

Because the media, the bureaucracy and the Democrats are running point for me I am going to, once again, in two days straight, try to use my political voice to lighten the mood for a moment. So, here’s a few comments overheard at the Fort George Brewery, Astoria, OR.

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Self Inflicted Crisis

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Self Inflicted Crisis

D. S. Mitchell

What a difference a day makes. Not only has it gone from sun and fun here at the Oregon coast but a big storm has blown in, sending us all here at Calamity Politics, running inside to escape the heavy rain and driving wind.

To top it off, I have managed to lose my eyeglasses. How? I do not know, but that bit of stupidity has proved expensive, and inconvenient. I went into Costco and my prescription is good until July, so they ordered me another pair of glasses. Two hundred nineteen dollars later and a delivery date sometime next week, caused me a bit of frustration and irritation.

In my case, the lost glasses are a bad thing. I’m currently wearing my prescription sunglasses, trying to get enough light to my retinas to see what I’m doing. Considering the change in weather, the sunglasses look really dumb.

So, enough of my personal nonsense. As Calamity Politics’ blogger-in-chief I am frothing at the mouth to comment on the craziness of this week in U.S. political headline news.

Stories are emerging, of a raging and screaming President Trump reacting to the growing Russian collusion reports on television. The televised testimony of Yates and Comey seems to be the true cause of Trump firing the FBI Director.

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Come On, Conway

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Come On, Conway

D. S. Mitchell

A Headache Coming On

I was flipping TV channels, as part of my job at Calamity Politics, looking for a tip, or a hot lead for today’s political blog post. Lo and behold. Here she comes, anorexic and demented. Kellyanne Conway, you are a real hard one to watch.  Talk about a dog chasing her tail.  Round and round, you go, never answering a question, always tagging back to the same tired, old worn rhetoric. Campaign rhetoric. Talk about political spin. You’re giving me a headache.

The Republicans, keep telling us Democrats to move on, “You lost.  Get out of our way, we have damage to do.”

But, no one apparently, has told Conway, or the White House.  The campaign is done, so let us start responding to questions about Now, Not your fabricated yesterdays. It is boring and unseemly to have you folks all using the same script, the same words, the same outrage, banging the same drum.

Please, go back into the White House, Alice, because I think you have a lunch date with the Mad Hatter.

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14 Emerging Trump Scandals

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14 Emerging Trump Scandals

By D.S. Mitchell

Calamity Politics is a progressive political blog. Our intention here at Calamity Politics is to shed light on the events of the day. We will look at the U.S. political hot button issues, and see if our behind the scenes investigations can offer insight, relevance and engaging conversation.

I was planning on talking about media overload today.  I have been wondering if the American public would tire of having the orange gorilla in their living room every single minute of every single day.  As of this morning, I am convinced that I need not worry about such an event.

Instead, I believe we are going to see a growing crowd assemble.  You know how it is, the train is approaching the collapsed bridge, and you just can’t take your eyes away.  Some of us will be cheering and some will be crying.  That’s politics for you.  I’m just praying, the Republic can survive.

The Scandals

    1. Resignation of retired General Mike Flynn, as National Security Advisor due to his association with Russian government.
    2. Trump’s link to election interventions by Russia.
    3. Resignation of Manafort and his Russian association.
    4. Trump’s bungled Executive Order: “Muslim” Travel Ban.
    5. Kellyanne Conway selling/promoting Ivanka’s fashion line on TV from the White House Briefing Room.
    6. Trump’s refusal to divulge his income taxes.
    7. Trump’s illegal use of his foundation.
    8. Melania Trump’s immigration file.  Possible, felonies and misdemeanors.  Some people are saying she was a call girl?
    9. Trump is an “Unreviewable” President, states White House counselor, Stephen Miller.
    10. Lawsuits against Trump University continue in several states.
    11. President Trump’s lease/contract on the Washington, D.C. Trump hotel.
    12. Trump loading the White House Cabinet with billionaires.
    13. FBI Director Comey and New York FBI office associates of Rudi Giuliani and the  revelation of Clinton emails on Anthony Weiner’s PC.
    14. President Trump’s refusal to divest himself of his worldwide business interests.

So, there you are folks, the down and dirty on the boiling scandals miring this new administration. So, because of Trump’s ridiculous conspiracy theories and his outright lies regarding 3,000,000 illegal voters swinging the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, along with preposterous statements as to the size of his Inaugural crowd size, his vicious and near constant attacks on the press, have convinced me, that we are in for a very bumpy ride. Journalists, bloggers, media outlets I believe President Trump he will do, and say anything, because he knows that the 24/7 news cycle is amenable to short term attention by the audience. So, here we go on the political ride of our lives. I think it will get damn dirty.

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